Photo of the Hong Kong skyline from Lugard Road at the top of Victoria’s Peak as taken by my iPhone
It is no wonder why Hong Kong is one of the most visited cities in the world. It offers a plethora of attractive aspects that makes it enjoyable for all types of travelers. The two main parts of Hong Kong are Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in the north. The island is very westernized and a great mixture of East meets West. It looks and feels a lot more like Asia on the peninsula side. Above the Kowloon peninsula are the beautiful mountain ranges of the New Territories. If you head further north from there, you will enter mainland China. In addition to Hong Kong Island, there are various other islands in the surrounding area. The largest island is Lantau Island, where the airport and Disneyland are located. In terms of natural wonders, Hong Kong is absolutely incredible. You see gorgeous mountain ranges on islands mixed with stunning water views that include the South China Sea and Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. Accordingly, it is a magnificent destination for hikers. I did three hikes on Hong Kong Island and one on Lantau Island. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to head to the New Territories to hike too. At the end of my trip, some locals I met noted that the best and most beautiful hikes are located there. In between the mountains, there is a first class city with one of the most magnificent skylines. In fact, it is the city with the most skyscrapers in the world. The main reason is that most of the terrain is comprised of steep mountain ranges so space comes at a premium and it is necessary to build up. In addition, Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula both have distinct, impressive skylines. As a result, it is like looking at two skylines. In my opinion, the fusion of natural and man-made beauties is the primary reason Hong Kong is such an incredible travel destination.
In addition, the food scene is amazing in Hong Kong, especially the Chinese food. Wonton mein and roast goose are must eats. There are plenty of options and variety for other great eats. The Japanese food is supposed to be incredible but I did not have enough time to try more than Ramen. It is obviously on my list for unfinished business on a return trip. Moreover, the coffee scene is very strong. I have tried specialty coffee shops throughout my travels in North America. The shops in Hong Kong measure up to some of the better cities for coffee. In general, Hong Kong has something for most people. If you enjoy shopping, there are plenty of places to shop from designer stores to street markets where you can practice your bargaining skills. For children, there is Disneyland. There are also other fun activities, such as cable car rides up to the peaks of mountains if you do not want to hike. For adults, there is a lively night life. In addition, certain “things” are legal in Hong Kong. I did not really notice it for most of my trip and then walked through a section of town where those types of establishments looked obvious. If you enjoy gambling, Macau is 37 miles west of Hong Kong and there are ferries to get there. Again, there is plenty of activities and attractions for people of all types and ages to enjoy. Moreover, the public transportation system is great. The MTR, its subway system, is efficient, modern, and clean. Delays are three minutes. It is a far cry from all the signal problems I experience in New York. As such, it is easy and quick to get to various parts of Hong Kong, including the beginning of trailheads for hikes. Moreover, eating and drinking is disallowed so everything is very clean. The bus system is great too and includes double decker buses. On the other hand, I will say the top deck of those buses can be freaky when you are on roads that go up into the mountain ranges. The roads are narrow so it looks like you are over the edge if you look out the window. It can also be disconcerting when you hear the bus graze tree branches. Nevertheless, accidents are rare so they are safe. The fare system is based on how far you travel. You will also need to pay a HKD 50 deposit for an Octopus card that you use to pay for the MTR. When you are in Hong Kong, you will also see a countless number of 7/11 convenience stores. In the United States, they are just another store. In Hong Kong, they have very good food. In addition, you can refill your Sim card there. In addition, the green tea Haagen Dazs ice cream bars are pretty good too.
Hong Kong is an amazing destination to visit. I will definitely be going back to experience it longer. I will also try to go in the winter time again during November or December. My dad grew up in Hong Kong and warned me that the summers are brutally hot. Although I was only there for 5 days for some wedding festivities on the last day, I fitted a lot in and below are my recommendations from the short trip.
Hikes
- Victoria’s Peak – Morning Trail (2,800 meters/1.7 miles one way and 400 meters/ 1,300 feet elevation gain)
Victoria’s Peak features the most popular view of the Hong Kong skyline. There are multiple ways up to the top, including a Tram ride. I walked up via the Morning Trail. It is easy to walk to it from the middle of Sai Wan or Sai Ying Pun. It begins on Hatton Road, where it intersects with Kotewall Rd and Po Shan Road. It is a completely paved road that runs through parks and gardens. For this reason, I consider it like a walk in the park. No special shoes (i.e. hiking shoes) are needed. On the other hand, it definitely has enough elevation change up a mountain to qualify as a hike. Accordingly, it is a good medium between a walk and a hike. Once you get to the end of the Morning Trail, you will see a mall across the street. You can continue towards the actual peak of the mountain. However, there is a radio station that is fenced off from the public and you cannot actually take a picture of the skyline from its premises. There is really no reason to go up unless you are heading to the Victoria Peak Gardens for sunset. There is a beautiful lookout point to see the south part of Hong Kong Island and the sun as it sets beneath the ocean. For the city view, there are two great lookout points at the end of the Morning trail. The first is on the grounds of the mall where the Tram stop is. It is a good spot for a photograph. However, the best spot for a picture is at the other lookout point on Lugard Road. At the end of Morning Trail, the road will be left of the mall when you finish the ascent up. Walk on Lugard Road until you reach Lugard Rd Lookout. I missed the city view at sunset because I ignorantly went to the actual peak. Nevertheless, the night view of the city is totally spectacular with the incredible lights of the Hong Kong skyline. The path is lighted so it is safe to walk back down after sunset too. I saw people making their way up as I walked down. If you go during the day, I would recommend trying to go on a sunny day for clear views.
It took me 3 hours to finish the roundtrip walk. Again, I wandered to the Peak and tried to find a non-existent opening to see the city skyline. It would have taken me a little over 2 hours to complete if I just did the Morning Trail and went to the two lookout points at the end of the trail instead.
- The Twins – Wilson Trail (4.8 km/3 miles one way and 494 meters/ 1,621 feet elevation change)
Although Victoria’s Peak has the best view of the Hong Kong city skyline, I heard that hiking the Twins provides the best views [plural] of Hong Kong Island. I agree. On the hike, you get beautiful backdrops of mountains, the coastal town of Stanley, the South China Sea, and the city skyline. One of the defining features of this hike are the 1,000 steps it takes to summit each peak of the Twins. It is a legitimately challenging hike because you go up one peak then down again before take another 1,000 steps to the second peak. It took me approximately 3 hours to complete. I also recommend hiking boots for this hike but I would not say they are necessary. You do not need it for the steps because they are manmade and exactly like a staircase. However, the extra grip is useful during some of the downhill and some rocky sections. In addition, definitely bring plenty of water. I would also be careful if you try the hike in the summer when it is really hot. There are significant areas on the trail that is exposed to the sun. The stairs would be extremely difficult on a very hot day.
The trailhead is easy to get to via mass transit. I started from the south end of the trail and made my way north but you can go north to south too. Some hikers like to go south then go over to Stanley. Take the 6 bus from Hong Kong station in Central that goes toward Stanley. Definitely make sure you take the 6 and not the 6X. The express bus will go past the Wilson Trail stop. From the beginning of the trailhead, you are greeted with the start of the first 1,000 steps. There are various trails that connect to the Wilson trail. As a result, make sure you read the signs at the forks in the road. You are generally going straight north so veering significantly west or east is an indicator you went the wrong way. After you hike past both peaks of the Twins, you will make it all the way to Violet Hill in the north where you will get a beautiful view of the city. From there, you continue north till you hit Parkview and Tai Tam Reservoir Road. From the road, you make a left and walk past the Wong Nai Chung Reservoir to Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, where the bus stop to return to Central is immediately north and on the left side of the road.
- Tian Tian Big Buddha – Ngong Ping 360 Rescue Trail (5.6 km/ 3.5 miles or 8.1 km/ 5 miles from Tung Chung Station one way and 934 meters/ 3,064 feet elevation change)
This hike is on Lantau Island, near the airport, and culminates at Tian Tian Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha. It is a 34 meter (112 feet) bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni that was completed in 1993. It is next to the Po Lin Monastery founded in 1906. Both are located in Ngong Ping, which is a highland on top of the mountains. The statue is a major tourist attraction. It is a magnificent statue that is worth visiting. Ngong Ping has tailored itself for tourism to capitalize on it. A cable car system has been built to carry tourists from Tung Chung station to Ngong Ping. Most visitors will take the tram. Once you get off the tram, you enter the village. It looks like a modern, upscale sky resort or outlet mall with plenty of shops and restaurants. After a long hike, I grabbed some gelato at Da Dolce in the village. It was decent but definitely tasted 10x better cause I was tired and craving something sweet. The restaurants had long lines so I decided not to get food. Outside of the main village and closer to the monastery, there are popup, outdoor Vitasoy shops with food stands and casual eats. I had some fried chicken with Ramen. The noodles were soggy but the chicken was very good.
The hike is definitely very strenuous. It is long and steep with significant elevation change. It gets very steep about 25 minutes into the Rescue Trail but, by itself, is not too bad. However, there are three peaks. As such, you take a steep hike up, steep walk down, then take a steep hike up again. Three peaks equates to completing a steep hike up three times. For a moment, I thought there was going to be a fourth peak and almost wanted to cry. I was relieved there was not. Nevertheless, the hike is manageable for a moderately experienced hiker. I hiked Victoria Peak roundtrip and the Twins in the preceding two days before I hiked to Big Buddha from Tung Chung station. It was painful and took longer than usual because I had to rest a lot more but I never felt I was not going to finish. There are also number markers (e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc.) that mark off distances on the trail. Once you are in the 20s (around 25), another trail connects to the Rescue Trail. Make sure you read the side and continue on the path that notes Lantau and NOT Nei Lak Shan Country Road. The other trail is coming from Lantau Peak. It is an alternative route for hikers to get to Ngong Ping but the Rescue Trail is easier to get to from the Tung Chung station. It is 268 steps to get up to Big Buddha. If you do a long hike, it is nothing. If you take the cable car, it can seem like a hike.
If you really want to have an epic hike, you can hike back to Tung Chung station. I did not even consider it because it is another 3 steep inclines and I was already exhausted. The other options to return to the station is the cable car or bus. I was returning near the end of the day. Accordingly, there was a massive line for the cable car. The estimate was 45 minutes just to a cable car. To return via bus, take the 23. When it is full, it goes straight to the station without stopping at any of the other bus stops. It will not drop you off right in front of the station though. Nevertheless, you will see the station and know when to get off.
It can be difficult to get from the Tung Chung station to the beginning of the trailhead. I just turned on Google Maps and it made it easy for me. If you use it, direct it to bring you to the Tung Chung Outdoor Recreation Camp. Navigation basically takes you to Yu Tung Road. From there, you can follow all the signs for Tung O Ancient Trail. The trailhead is close to the camp. From it, you cross a wooden bridge then follow the path to the right. The beginning of the trailhead will be on your left. If you do not have data, the following blog has detailed instructions with pictures: Run Lily Run. When you get out of Tung Chung station from the MTR, you are inside a mall. As such, you can get something to eat or drink before or after your trip. Of course, you can also shop.
- Dragon’s Back (4.7 km/ 2.9 miles and 275 meters/ 902 feet elevation change)
Dragon’s Back is considered Asia’s best urban walk. It is located in Shek O Country Park on the east side of Hong Kong Island. I thought the hike was completely overrated. Once I reached the top of the ridge, it was like rolling hills and looked like a dragon’s back hence the name. The views are not bad. I was at the top of the ridge of a mountain range with beach and ocean views. However, the novelty wore off for me quickly. The views did not nearly justify some of the nuisances I experienced. First, it was very windy. Depending on the temperature, it can be very cold so have a light jacket handy. Next, it was not even much of a workout. I hiked three long hikes consecutively the preceding three days and Dragon’s Back did not even make me break a sweat or feel my tired legs. The most difficult part of the hike was avoiding all the stones on the north part of the trail. Moreover, there was nothing to see there but trees. You know you have reached the beginning of nothing when you descend down from the mountain ridge. As such, it may make sense to turn around and go back to where you came from instead of heading north. Finally, the most annoying part of the hike was because derived from it being is very easy. For this reason, there were a lot more tourists in my way. Naturally, they had no hiker’s etiquette at all. They would walk in lines to block more serious hikers from passing and randomly stopped to take pictures of nothing. Consequently, you can skip this hike if you are a serious hiker.
The hike is easy to get to via the MTR. You take it to Shau Kei Wan station. There is a large bus depot under the highway overpass. From there, take the 9 bus to the To Tei Wan stop, where the beginning of the trailhead is located. The trail is Hong Kong Trail Sec. 8. Follow the signs to Shek O Peak and continue north from there. If you make it all the way north, you can continue on the Hong Kong Trail to reach Big Wave Bay Beach. Although it is popular, I saw it from the top of the ridge and was too disappointed from the hike to keep on going. I took the exit to Collision Road instead. From that exit point, you have three ways to get back to Shau Kei Wan station. The first is the taxis that are dropping off tourists. Another option is the minibus. It costs 10 HKD and is cash only. The cheapest option is to catch the 9 bus again. However, you will probably have to wait and see the other two options first unless you get lucky and arrive at the bus station just as the bus arrives.
- Victoria Harbour boat ride
I definitely recommend taking a boat ride around Victoria Harbour. It is a beautiful harbor sandwiched by the Kowloon Peninsula in the north and Hong Kong Island in the south. Accordingly, you get views of the two spectacular skylines on both sides. Moreover, the waves are not too rough so you can enjoy a leisurely ride. I was fortunate that my friend rented out a boat for one of his wedding activities. Nevertheless, the boat rides are not too expensive. The “Junk”, traditional looking Chinese, wooden boats with sails that look like dragon fins, is the most economical. A ride on a Junk runs from $17-$25. The small cruise ships are more expensive at $65. There are also more premium experiences that include dinner.
- Kowloon
Kowloon is the peninsula side of Hong Kong. I did not get to spend as much time as I would have liked to so I will definitely have to explore it more next time. I went there for dinner one night and thought it would be lower key than Hong Kong Island. I was wrong. When I got out of the MTR station at Mong Kok, the lights were extremely bright and there was a chaotic herd of people heading in all directions. Again, Hong Kong Island is the more westernized part of Hong Kong and Kowloon feels a lot more like Asia. In addition to Mong Kok, I went to the Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) for a boat ride in Victoria Harbour. Even if you do not go on a boat ride, the pier offers an amazing view of the Hong Kong Island skyline.
- Sky 100 (International Commerce Centre (ICC), 1 Austin Rd W, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong)
It is the tallest building in Hong Kong and a defining feature of the Kowloon skyline. Accordingly, its observation deck also provides one of the best views of the city, especially the skyline of Hong Kong Island. My friend held one of his wedding receptions there at night. The views out the window provided a beautiful backdrop during the entire event. On the other hand, the windows reflect any lights that are on inside the observation deck. Even when I went to the darker section of the floor, there was enough light from the signs, with the history/ information about the building and city, that the windows reflected. As such, those reflections made it very difficult to snap a decent photograph at nighttime. The optimal photograph taking situation is probably daytime. Keep that point in mind since standard admission is 188 HKD but there is a deal for 2 tickets for HKD 222.
- Fa Yuen Street Market (156 Fa Yuen St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong)
If you want to go to a local market to shop and bargain, the Fa Yuen Street Market in Mong Kok is a spot for you. Stalls fill blocks of the street that are closed off to traffic: the stretch between Mong Kok Road and Prince Edward Road West. You will find clothing, shoes, souvenirs, toys, etc. My friend asked me to pick up a couple of traditional outfits for his daughter and his son. I found them in Fa Yuen Market. I was in a rush so I did not bargain with the vendor because I calculated that I would only save a few dollars once I converted the potential savings to USD. However, I probably should have at least asked for three outfits for the price I paid for two. The vendor looked shocked that I did not try to bargain. Accordingly, definitely negotiate because they assume you will and are ready. In addition, the street is known for having pickpockets so be aware and be careful.
- Hungry Boy (G/F, 4 Pak Po Street Mong Kok)
If you are looking for a good Hot Pot spot, Hungry Boy is a solid restaurant in Mong Kok. A friend and I started with a big bowl of clams. I saw other tables start out with lobsters. The seafood was utilized to add flavor to the broth that we used for the Hot Pot. The clams were awesome. Naturally, we ordered a bunch of items to put into the broth. I highly recommend the fried fish skin. The beef was very good. The corn was very sweet. The fish paste was good. Hungry Boy is definitely for locals. I did not see any other tourists in the restaurant and everyone was ordering in Chinese.
- Joyful Dessert House (74 Hak Po St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong)
It is on the Michelin recommended list. It was good but did not live up to the hype. The desserts are not overly sweet, which can be a plus or negative depending on an individual’s preference. My friend and I ordered the Mango Napoleon cake and lava cake with a scoop of green tea ice cream. In terms of the Napoleon cake, I have had better but the mango was very sweet. The lava cake was very moist. Both dishes were solid but neither blew me away.
- Sun Wah Café (334 Castle Peak Rd, Cheung Sha Wan, Hong Kong)
It has the reputation of having the best pineapple buns in Hong Kong. However, I had mixed feelings about it. The bread was very soft. On the other hand, the pineapple crust on top was forgettable. It was debatable whether the bread was that much softer than the pineapple buns at my favorite bakeries in New York. Accordingly, the softness of the bread did not make up for the mediocre pineapple crust. I also ordered an egg tart. It was decent but nothing more than a normal egg tart. In my opinion, Sun Wah Café is not a must try. I would not go out of the way to try it. Nevertheless, it is worth a shot if you pass or are close by it. They have a stand outside for you to grab and go.
- Hong Kong Island – Food
1. Wonton Mein
a. Mak’s Noodle (77 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong Island)
It is the most famous spot for wonton noodles in Hong Kong. I ordered a wonton and beef brisket noodle soup. Mak’s lives up to its reputation. The crispy noodles and flavorful broth really make the dish. The wontons contain shrimp. I actually do not like shrimp so I did not love the wontons. I tried them anyway to see if my opinion would change when I ate wontons at a renowned place. It did not. However, the wontons are great and a must try if you like shrimp. In addition, the beef brisket was very good. The portion sizes for the bowls are small. I would have definitely needed to eat two bowls if I ate nothing else. As such, I also ordered the yu choy with oyster sauce. I definitely recommend ordering those vegetables as a side when you eat wonton noodles in Hong Kong. Of course, you can just eat one bowl then eat somewhere else to try more food in the city.
b. Tsim Chai Kee (98 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong Island)
It is across the street from Mak’s. Even though Mak’s is more well-known, I actually liked Tsim Chai Kee more. In my opinion, it had the best broth and noodles. I ordered it with beef instead of wontons. The slices of beef were awesome. On the other hand, the broth was a little too salty to drink by itself. It was probably because of the beef. I also ordered a yu choy and oyster sauce. It was consistent with the dish I ate at Mak’s.
c. Mak Ming Noodle (309 Queen’s Rd W, Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island)
I ordered the noodles with beef brisket. The noodles were very crisp. The brisket and broth were very good. Mak’s Noodle and Tsim Chai Kee in Central were better but not significantly. Mak Ming Noodle is a good alternative to those more famous restaurants if you are in Sai Wan or the west side of the island.
- Kam’s Roast Goose (Wah Commercial Centre, 226 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island)
Roast goose is a must try dish in Hong Kong. The skin is like a duck’s but the goose meat is a lot leaner than the fatty duck. Kam’s is one of the most famous spots for roast goose. In fact, it is Michelin star rated. For this reason, there are usually lines to sit and eat at the restaurant. I went on an off hour and there was a line. However, I ordered it to go and I received my goose over rice quickly. I also tried roast goose a second time at a random spot. The most noticeable difference between the two experiences was that the flavor from the skin and the sauce, which was amazing on the rice too, was superior at Kam’s. Nevertheless, the goose was great both times. Even if you cannot make it to Kam’s, definitely eat some roast goose in Hong Kong.
- Sun Hing (Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town, Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island)
Tim Ho Wan is the big name for dim sum in town. It is Michelin star rated. Of course, it also means there will be long lines. Their roast pork buns are legendary and are definitely worth it. Nevertheless, there is a location in New York now so I just waited to return home to try it instead of waiting in line for Hong Kong. Sun Hing is a very good, hole in the wall alternative that you will only be able to try in Hong Kong. It is also open very early in the morning at 3 AM if you are suffering from jet lag and looking for some good dim sum. As a warning, you do not go there for the service. In addition, it is mostly for locals. I am not sure how difficult it would be to order if you do not speak Cantonese or Mandarin. Moreover, it can be a bit confusing. The workers will walk around with some items. You need to ask for other items that are brought to you. I could not figure out the logic while I was there. I just asked for things I did not see come around.
In terms of the food, Sun Hing is known for its lia sao bao (egg custard buns). They may be sold out later in the day so get there early if you definitely want to try them. I thought they were very good but not something I have never tasted before. I also enjoyed the spare ribs over rice, which came in a small tin bowl, and chicken sticky rice. On the other hand, one of my favorite dim sum dishes is beef rice noodle. I did not like it at Sun Hing. First, I prefer the noodle smoother. Next, the beef was not very good. Regardless, Sun Hing is very good for food but the service could be better.
- Sang Kee (G/F, 7-9 Burd Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island)
Congee is one of my favorite Chinese dishes. Sang Kee is an excellent hole in the wall spot for it. It was definitely different from what I am accustomed to in New York. It had a tougher texture compared to the smooth porridge I generally taste in New York. Although it took me a few bites to get used to it, I liked it. I ordered my favorite congee: preserved egg and meat. It was excellent. The meat was especially good and tasted like a pulled pork. The fried Chinese fritter is usually used to dip and soak up the congee. Sang Kee’s dough is not too oily. It also comes in a small plate with only a few pieces compared to two long sticks I usually get in New York. However, it was enough. I only wanted to try a little bit. If I wanted more, I could have ordered multiple plates of it.
Sang Kee is not easy to find. Burd Street is a side street and the restaurant is a small hole in the wall. It is not the corner restaurant. I also do not read Cantonese so I had to use pictures to match its sign to photos. Although the menu is in Chinese, everything has pictures. As such, it is easy enough for tourists to just point to what they want.
- Butao (G/F, 69 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong Island)
It compares to the best Ramen spots I have tried anywhere. It is a build your own Ramen restaurant. Consequently, you pick your own combination of noodles, meat, base, etc. My noodles were excellent. They were thick but still soft. The pork belly I ordered was awesome. For my base, I went with the “Black King”, which is sesame. I liked but did not love it. The noodles and meat tasted fine with it. However, I did not try to drink the soup after I finished everything else. I probably would have enjoyed a more traditional base (e.g. Tonkotsu). Butao has an English and Chinese menu so it is definitely great for all comers.
- Paradise Dynasty (6/F, 6/F, Lee Theatre Plaza, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island)
It is known for its unique take on Singaporean xiao long bao (soup dumplings). It is located in the Lee Theatre Plaza, a shopping plaza, in Hong Kong’s Times Square. It was a little difficult to find the restaurant. I had to go into one of the clothing stores before I found my way to the elevator bank to get to the sixth floor. Paradise Dynasty is a beautiful restaurant. The décor is very elegant and ambient. There is water running through the middle of part of the restaurant in between tables. However, the waiters and service can be a little slow. I started my meal with an order of the La mian minced meat and mushroom (dry). The noodles were like delicious, thin Ramen noodles. The minced meat and mushrooms were excellent. The sauce had a kick to it too. I also ordered a side of bok choy, which was very good.
Of course, the restaurant is known for its xiao long bao. They were not close to the best tasting soup dumplings I have ever eaten. From my experience, the soup inside needs to be sizzling hot. Normally, I need to bite a hole into the top of it and slowly suck the soup out of them first before I can eat the rest of it. The soup in the ones at Dynasty were lukewarm and I could eat them in one bite. Nevertheless, it was the most unique xiao long bao experience I have had because of the various flavors. I tried all 8 in the sampler dish. The flavors and my comments are:
Crab roe (orange) – Good but I generally do not like crab unless it is Dungeness or blue crab.
Szechuan (red) – Not that spicy.
Garlic (brown) – Good. It was like eating clams in garlic sauce.
Cheese (yellow) – It definitely had a cheesy flavor but was not my favorite.
Ginseng (green) – It tasted like ginseng but I was not a fan of it in the soup.
Foie gras (gray) – Very good. Definitely try it if you like foie gras.
Black truffle (black) – I absolutely tasted the truffle oil. Although one was enjoyable, I would have got tired of the taste if I had a second one.
Signature (white) – It is the traditional xiao long bao that most places have. It was solid.
Again, I have never had a xiao long bao experience like it before. I am glad I tried it. However, the actual dumplings were not all that special individually. I would probably not try it again now that the novelty has worn off. Nevertheless, Paradise Dynasty was a very good restaurant and I really enjoyed the other two dishes I ate.
- Hong Kong Island – Sweets
1. Tai Cheong (G/F, Lyndhurst Building, 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong Island)
It easily has the best egg tarts I have ever eaten. The crust was the biggest differentiator from all other egg tarts. It had the thickness and taste of a shortbread cookie. The egg custard was also delicious right out of the oven. I saved my second one for later and it cooled. Although it was still delicious, it was obviously better hot.
- Be-Juiced (45 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong Island Island)
I am a big fan of acai bowls. Not surprisingly, the best ones I have had were in warm or tropical climates. As such, I needed to try one in Hong Kong and found my way to Be-Juiced. You select a small (2 toppings) or large (3 toppings) bowl. The acai base was exactly how I love it: cold and hard like a sorbet. I went with a fruity theme and picked strawberries, blueberries, and bananas as my three toppings. In my experience, a great honey really puts an acai bowl over the top. Accordingly, I also asked for raw honey to be put on top of everything. Overall, it was a pretty good acai bowl. It was definitely a great healthy alternative and provided an energy boost to the beginning of my day.
- Sharetea (2 O’brien Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island)
Bubble tea is definitely a drink you need to have in Asia. Sharetea is a chain all around the world. I have tried it in Canada. It was very good there. I ordered a Taiwanese milk tea at one of the Sharetea locations in Hong Kong and I thought it was noticeably better than my first taste of it in Canada. Of course, it could have been mental and my mind telling my taste buds it must be better in Asia.
- Oddies Foodies (45 Gough St, Central, Hong Kong Island)
Eggettes are one of the most popular street snacks in Hong Kong. They are basically waffles but in the shape of many egg puffs so an eater can pull them off one by one. Oddies Foodies utilizes the eggettes in an interesting way. It combines them with an ice cream sundae to create their eggette parfaits. I ordered the “Kido”: artisan cookies and cream gelato with Nutella sauce, Nutella custard eggette, cookie dough chunks, and caramelized croutons. It looked amazing. However, it looks better than it actually tastes. Individual parts of the parfait, especially the cookie dough chunks, were great but they did not really mesh all that well together. I was also not a big fan of the gelato. It might have been because it was low fat. It was a bit of a contradiction for the parfait. I was already conceding that I would not be eating healthy by choosing to down a lot of sweets. As such, just put in the best tasting gelato with the rest of the parfait.
Nevertheless, definitely find and eat some eggettes in Hong Kong. The eggette parfait is very photogenic at Oddies Foodies even if the taste did not blow me away.
- Coffee
1. Coco Espresso (197 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island)
The winner for the best latte I drank in Hong Kong was Coco Espresso. The latte was perfection. There was not even a hint of bitterness. The latte was sweet and had a perfect texture, smooth and rich, throughout the entire drink.
This location has been relocated. Coco Espresso has multiple locations. There main location is 13 -15 Jervois street, Sheung Wan.
- The Cupping Room (Shop LG, The Centre Mark, 287 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island)
It is the home base for an award winning barista. Although that winner did not make my latte, the barista who did made an excellent drink. There was a hint of bitterness at the top of the drink but it had smooth texture and richness throughout the rest of it. Moreover, the breakfast was great. The avocado toast was awesome. The poached egg was cooked perfectly.
- Omotesando Koffee (Shop G24-25, Lee Tung Avenue, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island)
It is a very unique coffee shop because it looks like a laboratory and the baristas wear lab coats. On the other hand, the line is a weird and a bit of a nonsensical process. You order at the register when you enter the shop and pay then take the receipt to the baristas up the stairs to place the order. As such, it is two lines. I did not understand why the order would not have gone straight to the baristas after I paid. Nevertheless, the latte was almost perfect. There was not much bitterness. It had great texture in terms of richness and smoothness. On the other hand, it was a little watery but not too much that I disliked it.
- Hazel & Hershey (Shop 3, 69 Peel Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong Island)
I had a very good but inconsistent latte. It was perfection on top. The microfoam and latte art was top notch. However, it got a bit watery as I drank my way down the rest of the cup. I wished the smooth texture and thickness were consistent for the entire drink but at least it retained its richness throughout.
- Winston Coffee (Fu Kwok Building, 213 Queen’s Rd W, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island)
I had a decent latte at Winston Coffee. The microfoam on top was not perfect and I could taste bitterness within most of the latte. On the other hand, the texture was pretty good for the most part: smooth and rich. Moreover, it came with a pistachio biscuit, which was delicious. It was definitely not the best latte I had in Hong Kong but also not bad. I also ordered an avocado egg toast. It was solid but did not blow me away. Although Winston Coffee takes credit card, it is a 200 HKD limit so definitely have cash on hand.
- Island Pacific Hotel (152 Connaught Rd W, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong)
There are plenty of AirBnB and hotel options throughout Hong Kong. I got a recommendation to stay in Central. Island Pacific Hotel is a little bit west of Central, about a 30 minute walk or 2 quick MTR stops. It was close enough for me. Moreover, it is a lot quieter over at Sai Ying Pun, which fit my personal preference. The hotel is by the water, Victoria Harbour. If you have a harbor view room like the pictures on the hotel website, you will have a great view. My room faced the city so it was less memorable. However, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park is a quick walk from the hotel and has amazing views of Kowloon and the Hong Kong Island skyline. In addition, the room and bathroom were very modern, clean, and comfortable. Of course, it was smaller than what I am used to in the United States but it was expected. In addition, there is a free shuttle from and to Hong Kong Station that makes arriving from and leaving to the airport easy. I definitely recommend this hotel but you will not have a lack of alternatives in Hong Kong.